Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
Pyrenees GR11 2003 - Day 28: September 5th
Friday 5th September
It rained most of the night, but fortunately stopped by the time I left camp at 8am.
The descent to Arans was very steep, with no zigzags to make it easier on the knees.
From Arans I dropped down the road to Ordino for more supplies, rather than make the
traverse through the woods. After picking up some more food and drink I climbed up
paths and pistas through pleasant woodlands to a picnic site halfway to the Coll d’Ordino.
Here I met an elderly English couple who had walked up from Ordino. I dried my wet gear
and washed some clothing in the small reservoir at the site. I was surprised how chilly the
reservoir was chilly when I took a quick swim. A young Moroccan couple also appeared.
They spoke surprisingly good English. There was now a steep climb up to the grassy
Ordino Pass, which was crossed by a road, and I dropped down to a grassy plateau for a
break.
On the steep descent, I missed the path to town of Encamp, but the alternative route
was very similar. A 700m descent in 2km was hard work. A terrific thunderstorm hit as I
reached Encamp. I sheltered from the worst of the weather before heading up the other
side of the valley. The path up the other side was more like a small stream, running with
brown water. I met a British walking guide (He had retired to Andorra and was guiding to
supplement his income) and his Irish client. When I camped in the trees below Coll de
Jovell, it was still raining.
It rained most of the night, but fortunately stopped by the time I left camp at 8am.
The descent to Arans was very steep, with no zigzags to make it easier on the knees.
From Arans I dropped down the road to Ordino for more supplies, rather than make the
traverse through the woods. After picking up some more food and drink I climbed up
paths and pistas through pleasant woodlands to a picnic site halfway to the Coll d’Ordino.
Here I met an elderly English couple who had walked up from Ordino. I dried my wet gear
and washed some clothing in the small reservoir at the site. I was surprised how chilly the
reservoir was chilly when I took a quick swim. A young Moroccan couple also appeared.
They spoke surprisingly good English. There was now a steep climb up to the grassy
Ordino Pass, which was crossed by a road, and I dropped down to a grassy plateau for a
break.
On the steep descent, I missed the path to town of Encamp, but the alternative route
was very similar. A 700m descent in 2km was hard work. A terrific thunderstorm hit as I
reached Encamp. I sheltered from the worst of the weather before heading up the other
side of the valley. The path up the other side was more like a small stream, running with
brown water. I met a British walking guide (He had retired to Andorra and was guiding to
supplement his income) and his Irish client. When I camped in the trees below Coll de
Jovell, it was still raining.
Pic de Casamanya
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